The walls of Red Mane tribe were made of light-colored wooden logs and decorated with red feathers and fur in certain spots. It was tall enough to block out goliath killers and many of the other large grazing animals Zhang Han had seen before.
He wiped some seat off his brow. The weather was hot and sunny out today as well, and because of the bright light it was harder to see far ahead in detail, but within a few more minutes he could make out guards standing along the top of the wall.
Kalla squirmed in the saddle behind him. "Yes, they can see us! Look, they're waving!"
Vaien, on the other hand, grew tense. "Stay close to me, Zhang Han. Don't get out of my sight."
"I understand."
Zhang Han didn't particularly like the idea of being kept around Vaien like a toddler, but he had no choice for the first few days at least. One never knew what kinds of people he would meet or what could happen to him if he was left alone. Not to mention that Vaien had a psychological shadow after his Dad was led to his death by someone, essentially murdered, so it was no wonder that he'd be overprotective of Zhang Han.
Zhang Han would try not to mind it. In any case, everyone could apparently 'smell' that he was his partner, anyway...he wasn't used to that idea yet.
Figures on the top of the wall soon could be seen more clearly, their reddish hair and bows slung over their backs. The wall around the village loomed taller. Kalla wouldn't stop chattering nonstop about everything she'd have to tell to people at the village and how much Zhang Han was sure to like the alcohol; they'd improved the brewing method.
Once the three of them grew close enough, Zhang Han heard a shout. A man with a long braid, auburn hair, stared down at them from above.
"Hey! Kalla, welcome back!" he paused, then gave a somewhat apprehensive expression. "And Vaien, greetings. It has been a long time."
Vaien just nodded, but Kalla waved energetically as she replied, "Sup'! Everything good here? I don't see anything burned down, sooo I'll assume so!"
The man laughed and then signaled down on the other side of the wall.
Vaien pulled the reigns, and Russel stopped in front of a large gateway. Red tassels hung of a square cut block in the gate, a place that Zhang Han assumed could slide open for a gatekeeper to speak with someone outside without having to open the gate.
As the man on the wall finished his signals, there was a creaking noise.
Slowly the gate began to lift. Zhang Han heard chatter from those behind it, and saw that the only ones pulling open the gigantic gate were two villagers, using ropes on pulleys to lift it from both sides.
A crowd of people came into view but what surprised Zhang Han was a blur fast like a cockroach that approached them. Whatever it was shot off the ground at Russel
The snoufle made an alarmed braying noise.
But Vaien just listed a hand and slapped that thing out of the air.
A grubby child -a little girl- rolled across the ground with a startled cry, but seemed unaffected by the hit.
"Vaien! I missssssed youuuuu! Let me hug you," they shouted loudly in a high-pitched, chirping kind of voice.
"Don't ram into me like a wild animal," Vaien said in return, but here was a faint smile on his lips.
Other people were also whispering to each other, clearly talking about the crazy turn of events.
The girl picked herself up, she had long pigtails with feathers poking out everywhere in a way that was kind of silly. Her hair wasn't red though, but brown.
Kalla jumped off the saddle and pulled the girl into a hug. A very tight, constricting hug.
"I'll hug in Vaien's stead!"
"NO!" screamed the girl with a laugh.
Kalla did not relent. "...Lily, why do you only care about him?! Where's my hello?"
"I started thinkin' Vaien would never come back," Lily said sadly.
Kalla laughed nervously. "Of course he would...uh, eventually."
Vaien just shrugged.
Another kid, taller than Lily, came hurtling over as well. He stared with big eyes at Zhang Han on Russel. Actually, everyone was staring at the two of them, Vaien the powerhouse and the strange man he brought along with him.
Zhang Han stared back calmly and saw a sea of unknown faces, many with red hair, but a couple with brown or blond. The adults were quieter, there was an air of hesitance in the group, as though they were unsure what to say.
It was the younger boy who'd just arrived that spoke up, but not to Vaien. He was pointing and gaping his mouth at Zhang Han. He spoke in a skeptical tone, "Your hair is black. Weird. Which tribe do you come from? Are you suppressing your power? Why do you smell like Vaien?"
Zhang Han gave an awkward cough. All these questions were pretty big landmines.
"Hey," Vaien jumped down off Russel, and several people took a step back with a gasp. The boy who asked the rapid-fire questions stayed put, however. "Don't pepper him with questions."
Lily agreed. "Yeah, don't pepper with questions! Besides, what's up with your attitude, Gunther, ignoring Vaien? Aren't you glad he's back?!" Or so she said, then listened to the silence of the people around her and was confused.
The adults weren't agreeing with her, more quiet murmurs breaking out.
"Why do I have to fawn around him?" retorted Gunther, crossing his arms. "I thought Vaien was just abandoning us since he was gone so long."
"Hey hey," hissed a person nearby, "Watch your mouth…"
Vaien chuckled, and everyone seemed to freeze in place. They were afraid, Zhang Han realized. But Vaien seemed to be used to their caution, perhaps because of the bad terms he'd left Red Mane on. Even Kalla didn't interrupt as Vaien narrowed his eyes coldly and stared at the people surrounding him meaningfully.
Zhang Han slid down Russel and stood next to him.
He wasn't afraid.
Vaien cold look shifted slightly as he glanced at Zhang Han, then spoke seriously.
"I'm back, you all don't have to worry, because I'm not here to bring up the past. I've returned to help out with the recent issues." He wrapped an arm around Zhang Han's shoulders. "And this is my partner. Get it?"
There was a moment of comprehension; if someone dared mess with Vaien's partner, repeating the same mistake as with Khavin, then at that time Vaien wouldn't give two fucks anymore and take his revenge. then the group burst out in chatter, stepping closer to Vaien and Zhang Han. Their demeanors had changed completely.
"So you've come back to help! That's great."
"Much has happened while you were gone."
"Heh. We still got plenty of booze for ya!"
Zhang Han was patiently watching as Kalla and Vaien dealt with catching up with everyone on how things had gone while they were away.
"So my young lad," said an elderly man to Vaien, stepping up from the crowd with a wooden cane, "so you've finally decided to settle down with a partner, huh?"
Vaien's words caught in his throat for a second, his boastful smile erased from his face. After all, he wasn't used to being that guy who was faithful and all that, and...well, it did start as a sex deal, too, but things didn't feel the same anymore.
"Yeah." Vaien turned to Zhang Han. "This is Mallak, he's done a lot for me over the years. Everyone, this is Zhang Han."
"What a strange name…" whispered one, but went quiet at Vaien's glare.
The old man nodded sagely. "I see, I see. Not from a tribe near here."
"Yeah, it is strange!" Gunther interjected, puffing himself up even though he was one of the shortest people around, being a kid and all. "That's what I was asking! This outsider ain't some enemy spy, right? You didn't fall for any dumb seduction stuff, Vaien, did you?!"